D and D can help with environmental education by creating immersive, story-driven learning experiences that engage students on a deeper level. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Andrew Thaler, who’s using Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) to teach environmental concepts in a way that feels more like play than a lesson. Through world-building, role-playing, and strategic storytelling, students aren’t just learning—they’re adventuring through ecosystems, facing climate-related challenges, and discovering how natural systems work in real-time.
Environmental education is often limited to textbooks and lectures, but D&D turns abstract concepts into living, breathing quests. Whether battling pollution monsters or restoring magical coral reefs, players better understand ecological relationships and environmental issues while having fun. Suppose you’re a teacher, game master, or ecological advocate. In that case, this episode will show you how fantasy and education can combine to create a lasting impact in and out of the classroom.
00:00 – D and D can help with environmental education: Introduction: Why environmental literacy matters
04:48 – D and D can help with environmental education: How D and D can help with environmental education in schools
09:36 – D and D can help with environmental education: Gamifying science with role-playing games
14:24 – D and D can help with environmental education: Dr. Andrew Thaler on using D and D for learning
19:12 – D and D can help with environmental education: Storytelling as a tool for environmental education
24:00 – D and D can help with environmental education: Building worlds that teach ecology through play
28:48 – D and D can help with environmental education: Teacher success stories using D and D in class
33:36 – D and D can help with environmental education: Challenges and best practices in RPG education
38:24 – D and D can help with environmental education: How D and D can help with environmental education globally
43:12 – D and D can help with environmental education: Final thoughts and where to get started
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SFS Articles: https://www.southernfriedscience.com/10-tips-for-running-a-dungeons-dragons-campaign-for-education/
https://www.southernfriedscience.com/hunt-the-jabberwock-defend-the-warren-save-the-forest-a-dd-5e-adventure-for-environmental-educators/
https://www.southernfriedscience.com/twas-brillig-building-a-dungeons-dragons-campaign-for-adventurers-in-and-out-of-the-classroom/
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